Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the Assembly on Monday that the people of the neighboring state of Mizoram have occupied about 1,800 hectares of land in Assam spread over three districts. The Chief Minister’s statement comes in the backdrop of tension between the two northeastern states following the alleged encroachment of land in Cachar district by the people of Mizoram.
In a written reply to a question by All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Sujam Uddin Laskar, Sarma said a total of 1,777.58 hectares of land in the Barak Valley region has been occupied by Mizoram encroachers. Out of this the largest area of 1,000 hectare is in Hailakandi district, followed by 400 hectare in Cachar and 377.58 hectare in Karimganj.
Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, said various preventive measures such as patrolling and domination of the area have been taken by the Assam Police to free the encroached land and to protect the people living on the Assam side. “A total of nine border posts (BoPs) have been set up in Hailakandi, Karimganj and Cachar districts, which share borders with Assam-Mizoram. Out of nine BOPs, six are in Hailakandi, two are in Karimganj and one is in Cachar,” he said. ” .
In Karimganj, two temporary camps have been set up at Chhoto Bhubirbond under Ratabari police station and Medhalichera under Bajrichera police station to counter any attempt of land belonging to Assam. The Chief Minister said that apart from this, two permanent CRPF camps have been set up at Khulichera and Lailapur under Dholai police station area of Cachar.
“The district administrations of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi are maintaining regular contact and contact with their counterpart districts, mainly Kolasib and Mamit,” Sarma said. He further said that several meetings have been held between the two state governments at different levels to ensure the sanctity of the constitutional boundary.
“Recently, on 09/07/2021, a Chief Secretary level meeting was held between the State of Assam and Mizoram at New Delhi on the orders of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. All lawful steps should be taken to prevent encroachment. Assam-Mizoram inter-state border,” Sarma said. Mizoram shares a border of about 164.6 km with Assam.
The hill state was part of Assam until 1972 when it was carved out as a union territory. It became India’s 23rd state on 20 February 1987, following the historic Mizoram Accord between the then underground Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Centre, ending 20 years of insurgency in the state.
In a separate reply to Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, Sarma said that a total of 209 cases of encroachment on Assam’s land have been reported since 2016, when the BJP first came to power in the state. He said that these encroachments were done by the people of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya.
The Chief Minister said that the Assam government has registered 127 cases and arrested three people for encroachment.
read all Breaking Newshandjob today’s fresh news and coronavirus news Here
.